In our Real English video series we deal with the topic of giving street directions, a practical grammar and vocabulary point which is difficult to grasp, both from the perspective of the person giving directions and from that of the listener, both in our own mother tongue and, let alone, in English.
It is a fairly short video where the person asking for street directions keeps repeating the same question:
Excuse me, can/could you tell me the way to XXXXX, please?
The answers are fairly straightforward and to the point, and the people giving street directions use the imperative most of the times:
Just go up there and turn left.
Straight up to the traffic lights and then turn left at the traffic lights.
Go down to XXXX and turn left, that’s XXXXX.
It’s just along here and your first on the left.
Up to the lights, and it’s the road on the left.
The cathedral is straight down here.
Straight up the road.
That way!
The video gives us the opportunity to revise how to thank someone:
Lovely.
Thanks / Thanks a lot / Thank you / Thank you very much.
And how to apoligise if we don't know something:
Sorry? Where?
Sorry, I can’t speak English.
I’m sorry, I don’t know, sorry.
I’m afraid I don’t know the way, I’m a stranger here myself.
Drop by the Real English site to watch the same video with subtitles and to do some interactive activities based on the video above.
This blog features a fairly similar video, Around the town, in the Vodcast Series, although this one is a bit more complicated for learners in the Basic level.
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Directions. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Directions. Mostrar todas las entradas
martes, 8 de enero de 2013
martes, 31 de julio de 2012
Around the town
Around the town is another video in the Richmond vodcast series. This video clip is suitable for Básico 1 and Básico 2 students.
Self-study activity:
Watch the beginning of the video clip but freeze it at 1.00. What’s the mission for Tom and Alex?
Play the video on. Tom will show you a piece of paper with their mission written on it.
How much does Alex pay for the ice-cream?
How much does Tom pay for the chips?
What evidence of the places in Bournemouth do Tom and Alex get?
Watch the video again. Note down some of the street directions that both Tom and Alex are given.
Key:
The ice-cream is £1.60
The portion of chips is £1.90
Tom got a brochure from the theatre, a brochure from the post office and chips ("and I popped my chips" he says).
Alex got a postcard from the tourist information office, a leaflet from the cinema, and the ice-cream.
1:25
So go straight, straight through to traffic lights and then turn left.
Straight to traffic lights and it’s on the left.
1:35
Round to the left. Go through the garden. Up the stairs in that corner. It´s just long down on your left.
1:47
The lady said left at the lights and this is the theatre, this, this isn´t the theatre, this is an art centre.
2:00
I see an “I”, I see an “I”, Tom. Number one. Done
2:10
It´s opposite the gas building.
Brilliant. Thank you.
No problem at all.
So it´s opposite that building in the distance. Come on.
2:40
I’m just going go and cross the road at the traffic lights and the cinema is just there.
3:29
Hi can I have a “soft wheel”?
With or without flavour on it?
Without.
3:40
Seen the post office mate? Looking for…
Self-study activity:
Watch the beginning of the video clip but freeze it at 1.00. What’s the mission for Tom and Alex?
Play the video on. Tom will show you a piece of paper with their mission written on it.
How much does Alex pay for the ice-cream?
How much does Tom pay for the chips?
What evidence of the places in Bournemouth do Tom and Alex get?
Watch the video again. Note down some of the street directions that both Tom and Alex are given.
Key:
The ice-cream is £1.60
The portion of chips is £1.90
Tom got a brochure from the theatre, a brochure from the post office and chips ("and I popped my chips" he says).
Alex got a postcard from the tourist information office, a leaflet from the cinema, and the ice-cream.
1:25
So go straight, straight through to traffic lights and then turn left.
Straight to traffic lights and it’s on the left.
1:35
Round to the left. Go through the garden. Up the stairs in that corner. It´s just long down on your left.
1:47
The lady said left at the lights and this is the theatre, this, this isn´t the theatre, this is an art centre.
2:00
I see an “I”, I see an “I”, Tom. Number one. Done
2:10
It´s opposite the gas building.
Brilliant. Thank you.
No problem at all.
So it´s opposite that building in the distance. Come on.
2:40
I’m just going go and cross the road at the traffic lights and the cinema is just there.
3:29
Hi can I have a “soft wheel”?
With or without flavour on it?
Without.
3:40
Seen the post office mate? Looking for…
domingo, 6 de noviembre de 2011
Driver Seat Game
A few weeks ago Digital Play informed about Driver Seat game in their blog. This is what they said on their blog post.
Driving games can be fun and useful for practising directions, but most driving games are not suitable for class because they are too fast. Driver Seat game by the insurance company Liberty Mutual, however is different. It’s the first ‘senior driving simulator’ aimed at raising awareness of what it’s like to drive a car as you get older.
If you can play with a friend, Driver Seat game will allow you to practise street directions in English. Visit the Digital Play blog and you'll get detailed instructions on how to play.
If you are going to play on your own, Driver Seat game will allow you to develop your reading skills.
Driving games can be fun and useful for practising directions, but most driving games are not suitable for class because they are too fast. Driver Seat game by the insurance company Liberty Mutual, however is different. It’s the first ‘senior driving simulator’ aimed at raising awareness of what it’s like to drive a car as you get older.
If you can play with a friend, Driver Seat game will allow you to practise street directions in English. Visit the Digital Play blog and you'll get detailed instructions on how to play.
If you are going to play on your own, Driver Seat game will allow you to develop your reading skills.
martes, 28 de septiembre de 2010
Giving directions
Giving directions is a difficult task in all situations and in all languages, in our first language (Spanish) and in English.
It can very helpful, however, that we memorise a few expressions and use very short and general questions and answers, and avoid getting into too many details. This video is a good example of what I’m saying.
Where’s Namdaemun?
Grade 5 Lesson 5 from Fisherman on Vimeo.
Self-study activity:
Get together with an English-speaking friend and download some of the activities to practise street directions from Boggles World ESL. As you can see, all the language which has to do with questions and answers is very simple and general.
It can very helpful, however, that we memorise a few expressions and use very short and general questions and answers, and avoid getting into too many details. This video is a good example of what I’m saying.
Where’s Namdaemun?
Grade 5 Lesson 5 from Fisherman on Vimeo.
This other video from Real English, however, is a bit more difficult. The speakers talk much more quickly, and the names of the streets may cause us some difficulty.
Self-study activity:
Several people are asked about street directions. Stop after each person and note down both the question and the answer. You can self-correct the activity with the second part of the video, where the same situations are repeated, but this time you have subtitles that can help you fully understand the speakers' exact words.
Self-study activity:
Get together with an English-speaking friend and download some of the activities to practise street directions from Boggles World ESL. As you can see, all the language which has to do with questions and answers is very simple and general.
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